The Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor and approved by the state Senate. The board is responsible for ensuring that Arizona’s early childhood funds are spent on services that help our state’s young children be healthier and start kindergarten ready to succeed.

Meet Our Board

Nadine Mathis Basha

Nadine Mathis Basha is Chair of the First Things First Board. A former teacher, educator, small business owner and volunteer. Mrs. Mathis Basha has spent her adult life advocating for Arizona’s children, particularly with regard to early childhood education within the state.

Mrs. Mathis Basha developed Proposition 203, which was approved by voters in November 2006 – a ballot initiative to generate tax funds to establish a comprehensive system of early childhood development and health. The First Things First (FTF) board is in charge of the implementation and oversight of Proposition 203. Mrs. Mathis Basha was appointed as the first chair of the founding board of FTF for its first two years and continues to serve as a member on the board. In 2010, Mrs. Mathis Basha once again led a successful ballot initiative campaign preserving the funding for FTF.

Mrs. Mathis Basha has served on numerous boards and committees in conjunction with state and community agencies, the Governor’s Office and Arizona State University. In 1989, she founded the Children’s Action Alliance, a children’s public policy advocacy group that has significantly influenced the policies that enhance educational and medical needs for families with considerable financial constraints.

Her accomplishments in the field of early childhood have been acknowledged by the countless awards she has received over the years.

Mrs. Mathis Basha was presented with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities from the University of Arizona in December 2009. She also holds an honorary degree of Doctor of Education from Northern Arizona University as well as Arizona State University‘s Distinguished Achievement Award. She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University.

Gerald Szostak

Gerald Szostak is the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona located in Prescott, AZ. He has been working in youth development for almost two decades both in the private and non-profit sectors. Gerald has extensive experience in planning and implementing youth programs, staff development, and creating and sustaining community partnerships to increase recognition and financial support for the organization. Gerald started his youth development career on the east coast running private summer sports camps in New Hampshire and Maine. In 2006 he moved back to the Phoenix area and worked for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix for 8 years before his move to Prescott. He has a BS degree from Arizona State University, an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from Arizona State University. In 2015 Gerald was appointed by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to the First Things First State Board. Gerald was a founding board member of the Homeless Youth Connection, a non-profit that serves homeless teens in the Phoenix area and a Rotarian. He is now a proud Prescott Kiwanis Club member and graduate of Prescott Area Leadership​

Gayle Burns

Mrs. Burns is currently the Chair of the Board’s Communications and Government Affairs Committee. She is the Vice President of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) Board of Directors and chairs their Public Policy Committee. She previously served as the CAWCD representative to the Arizona Water Banking Authority.

Mrs. Burns also is a member of the ADD Water Council (Acquisition, Development and Delivery of New Water Supplies) and the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District.

She owned and operated the Christmas Cottage, a Glendale store specializing in Christmas ornaments and collectables, until 2007. During that time, Mrs. Burns was a member of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce and served as an officer of the Glendale Downtown Development Corporation.

For 27 years prior to that, Mrs. Burns owned and operated preschools. She was responsible for training staff, working with children and counseling parents, an experience that provided her with valuable insight in to what parents expect from early childhood development experts and what children need to succeed once they enter kindergarten.

She also worked as assistant office manager for Save-Way Auto Lease from 1967 to 1972.

Mrs. Burns attended Iowa State University and has lived in Arizona for 48 years. She and her husband, Robert Burns, have been married for 50 years and have two grown sons. They reside in Peoria.

Amelia Flores

Amelia Flores serves as an elected Council Member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, including two years as Tribal Council Secretary. Prior to her FTF Board nomination, Amelia served on the FTF Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Regional Partnership Council. Her past experience also includes serving as the Library and Archive Director for the CRIT Library for over 20 years. She is a strong proponent of early literacy, having developed and supervised an early literacy program as the CRIT Library Director. Amelia has an associate degree from Arizona Western and Northland Pioneer colleges. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Arizona. She is exceptionally community-oriented and has served on a number of boards and councils, such as United Presbyterian Church, CRIT Head Start Policy Council, La Paz County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board, the La Paz County Food Bank, the La Paz County Foster Care Review Board, and Parker Historical Society. Amelia also currently serves as a member of the Parker Unified School Board.

Rev. Dr. Darren Hawkins

Rev. Dr. Darren Hawkins, senior pastor of the Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church, was a member of the FTF Yuma Regional Partnership Council for seven years, most recently serving as Chair. He is a strong systems thinker who emphasizes the shared responsibility of families, communities and schools in helping our children reach their fullest potential. Rev. Hawkins has had the opportunity to work in Christian education, stewardship, outreach, fellowship, personnel and mission committees. Rev. Hawkins has been actively involved in community programs such as the Habitat for Humanity, Crossroads Mission and School-Based Clinics programs. Rev. Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University, a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Fuller School of Psychology, and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Theology from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife Shelley for over 27 years. They have grown children and two dogs. In his spare time, Rev. Hawkins enjoys watching football, playing golf and spending time with his family.

Dr. Sherry Markel

Dr. Sherry Markel has a 35-year career as an educator – ranging from her start as a teacher’s assistant in a preschool to teaching positions in K-12 schools and ending with her position as Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Markel recently retired from NAU and is very much interested in using her time to benefit young children. She has a host of publications to her credit, including papers on topics ranging from literacy interventions and teacher quality to online teaching and the role of language and culture in education (in partnership with the Navajo Nation). Dr. Markel is no stranger to board service. She has participated on a variety of boards, committees and task forces, most recently being asked to join the board of the Hopi Educational Endowment Foundation. She holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Teacher Education and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona, as well as a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in secondary education from Georgia State University. Dr. Markel lives just outside of Flagstaff. ​

Heidi Quinlan

Heidi Quinlan is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a licensed independent substance abuse counselor (LISAC) with postgraduate certification in infant/toddler family practice. She has specialized training in treating trauma and attachment disruptions in both children and adults. She utilizes a combination of cognitive behavioral techniques, EMDR, play therapy, Theraplay, sand tray therapy, parent child relationship therapies and other expressive approaches. Her work focuses on the significant influence of the family and family-of-origin as well as the neuroscience of the brain.

Ruth Solomon

Ruth Solomon currently serves as president of the Governing Board of the Pima County Joint Technological Education District (JTED), is past president and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence, and is a trustee of the Arizona Educational Foundation. She is an appointed member of the Arizona State Board of Library and Archives.

From 2003-2007, Mrs. Solomon served as associate superintendent of public instruction and policy advisor to the Arizona State School Superintendent of Public Instruction, where her responsibilities also included overseeing the information, technology, testing and evaluation departments.

From 1988 to 2003, Mrs. Solomon served as a member of the Arizona State Senate where she was elected assistant minority leader, served as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, chair of the Joint Committee on Capital Revenue and chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. She also served as the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on CPS and Child Related Services as well as serving as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Education and Health Committees.

A recipient of many awards and honors, Mrs. Solomon considers the education, health and well-being of children and their families as her number one priority.

Helena Whitney

Helena Whitney is a senior consultant with Health Management Associates, where she effectively bridges the policy and the politics of healthcare with her combination of public health, legislative affairs and community outreach experience. Her areas of expertise include U.S. – Mexico border health, immigration, the social determinants of health, culturally responsive care, behavioral health integration, and delivery system transformation. Helena has designed and delivered online and classroom-based courses on organizational leadership and societal change for the College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University. Instructional concepts include the role of culture and gender in organizations and how these factors impact leadership; understanding implicit bias; and how unconscious biases influence decision making. Helena has parlayed this experience into training tools for HMA clients who are seeking to improve the delivery of culturally responsive patient care. Prior to joining HMA, Helena was vice president of government relations and legislative affairs for the University of Arizona Health Network (UAHN). Prior to UAHN, she shaped public opinion and ignited community engagement for Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, the safety net healthcare system serving Phoenix and surrounding communities. As a senior health and human services policy advisor for the Arizona House of Representatives, she co-authored a legislative referendum increasing tobacco taxes by $0.60 per pack to fund trauma services, community health centers, and chronic disease prevention and research. Passing by 67 percent, the measure continues to be a primary healthcare revenue source. She also advanced policy reform in child welfare and long-term services and supports, including upstream changes addressing the social determinants of health. Helena earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in social work with a concentration in public policy from Arizona State University. Helena has global perspective. Growing up in a military family and a naturalized citizen from Serbia, she has been to more countries than U.S. states. When not working, Helena enjoys volunteering with the local Doberman pinscher rescue and training her own adopted dogs.

By law, members of the Board must be representative of Arizona’s diversity. They must include Republicans and Democrats, as well as residents of both metropolitan and rural areas. All Board members share a deep commitment to expanding opportunities for Arizona’s young kids to succeed in school and in life.

The Directors of the Department of Economic Security, Department of Health Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or their chosen designees, serve as non-voting ex-officio members.